Thin crystals of an Ir-Sn compound have been synthesized. The resulting material, where Ir and Sn are contained in a proportion 1:1, possesses a tetragonal lattice with ratio c/a "1, and the morphology of the crystals may be characterized as a layered structure. The mechanical behavior of the crystals under point load was studied at room temperature. Sliding of the layers is the main deformation mechanism of the samples, while the single layer is deformed by means of mechanical twinning. Cracks in single layers advance in [100] and [110] directions, but their transition through interlayer boundary is suppressed by sliding of the layers.